Rail-joint.



J. F. BALL.

HAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILEDMAII. 1. 1911.

wwwmw JOHN 1. BALL, or nsmnP, wnsrr VIRGINIA.

RAIL-Joint.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 7,1917. Serial N 0. 153,071.

To all whom it may concern. v

Be it known that I, J OHN BALn, a citizen of the United States, residing, at Estep, in the county of Boone, State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Rail- Joint; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable; others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved rail joint, and an object of the invention is to providea device of this kind which is simple and efficient in construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a T-shaped tongue and pocket connection between the adjacent ends of two adjoining rails, thereby preventing lateral displacement of the rails incident to the con;- tinuous usual contraction and expansion of the rails. I

A further object of the invention is to providemeans on theopposite sides of the two adjoining rails foradditionally securing the rails together, and preventing their upward displacement.

A further object of the invention-is the provision of. means on the under face of a rail tread extension, to engage a socket upon the upper face of the web of the adjacent rail, to further secure the rails together.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafiter-set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of two adjoining rails, connected by the improved joint.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of one ofthe rails, showing the tread extension and the substantially T-shaped pocket.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of the other rail, showing the substantially T- shaped tongue to enter said pocket.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the two rails joined together, showing the means for preventing excessive upward movement of the two adjoining rails relative to each other.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of an elongated link or slotted plate to hold the rails together to prevent their relative movement.

Referring more especially to the draw with enlargements 4 and 5.

with a pocket 6, substantially T-shaped in plan view. -The elongated portion 7 of the pocket in cross section or in end view of the rail is partially V-shaped, and in plan view said portion 7 ofthe pocket is also partially Vshaped' The T part 8 ofthe pocket Where it joins the elongated portion 7 provides shoulders 9, and this T part in end view of the rail 1 is partially V-shaped to resemble the V contour of the elongated portion 7, but wider. The opposite sides of the en largement of the rail 1 are provided with projection flanges 10 having apertures 11, and the purpose of these flanges 10 will appear subsequently. The tread portion 12 of the rail 1 is extended beyond the enlargement 4* as shown at 13, and this extension on its under .face is provided with a projection 11. The enlargement 5 of the rail 2 on its end face is provided with a tongue 15, which is substantially V-shaped to correspond with and fit the T-shaped pocket. The elongated or body portion 16 of this tongue in plan view is substantially V-shaped to correspond with the V-shape of the corresponding part of said pocket. In cross section the elongated or body portion 16 of the tongue is also V-shaped to correspond with and fit the elongated part 7 of the pocket. Where the T part 17 of the tongue joins the elongated portion 16-, shoulders 18' are constructed.

Thesershoulders correspondwith and engage -the shoulders 9 of the pocket, thereby preventing the tongue from withdrawing from the pocket, and the separation of the rails longitudinally. In end view of the rail 2 the T portion 17 of the tongue is V-shaped, to correspond with and fit within the T part 8 of the pocket, so that the shoulders 18 will I cooperate with the shoulders 9, to avoid said longitudinal separation of said rails. For one-half the length of the enlargement 5 of the rail 2, the tread 19 of the rail 2 is cut away, so that the extension 13 (which is substantially equal to the cutaway portion of the tread 19) of the rail 1, may overlie the enlargement 5 of said rail 2. When the two rails 1 and 2 are joined, as shown in Fig. 1 clearly, the cylindrical projection 14 en- Iatented June 5, 1917.

gages the socket 20 of the enlargement 5, thereby additionally preventing said longitudinal separation. The opposite side faces of the enlargement 5 of the rail 2 are provided with laterally extending flanges 21, and when the two rails 1 and 2 are joined, as shown in Fi 1 clearly, these flanges 21 abut the lateral anges 10 of the enlargement 4: of said rail 1. By this construction and arrangement, the elongated looped links 22 may engage said flanges 10 and 21, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 clearly, thereby link-connecting the adjacent ends of the rails in order to prevent extreme upward movement of either rail. However, the elongated looped links may be constructed so as to loosely fit said flanges 10 and 21, whereby either rail may move a trifle, incident to the rolling stock passing over the rails, Which causes such a slight depression of the ties as to be hardly perceptible to the eye, thereby preventing a too rigid joint of the rails. In order to hold the links 22 in place tapering keys or pins 28 are inserted through the apertures 11 and 24 of said flanges. In order to disassemble the joint of the rails the keys or pins may be removed, and subsequently the links, when the rail 1 may then be lifted, in Qder to disengage thetongue from the pocket. Referring to the drawing it is to be seen that the heights of the tongue and the pocket are substantially half or a trifle more than ha f the heights of said enlargements.

Having set forth the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In combination, a pair of adjoining rails, the adjacent ends of said rails having a T-shaped tongue and pocket connection to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rails, the opposite sides of the rails adjacent the adjoining ends having laterally extending flanges, one pair on each side, and means cooperating with said flanges to prevent extreme upward displacement of one of the rails.

2. In combination, a pair of adjoining rails, the adjacent end of each having an enlargement, the enlargement of one rail having a substantially T-shaped pocket, the end face of the enlargement of the other rail having an elongated T-shaped tongue to correspond With and fit said pocket, the opposite side faces of each enlargement having laterally extending flanges, a pair of elongated looped links, one link to fit the adjoining flanges of the corresponding sides of both enlargements, and keys passing through said flanges to hold the looped links in place.

3. In combination, a pair of adjoining rails, the adjacent ends of which having enlargements, the enlargement of one rail having a substantially T-shaped pocket Vshaped in cross section, the end face of the enlargement of the other rail having a projecting substantially T-shaped tongue corresponding with and bein V-shaped in cross section to engage and said pocket, the tread of the rail having the pocket having an extension protruding beyond the en largement Which has the pocket, the under face of said tread extension having a projection, the tread of the rail having the tongue being cut-away half the length of the enlargement, the enlargement on its upper face Where the tread is cut-away having a socket to receive said projection, the opposite side faces of each enlargement having lateral flanges provided with apertures, looped links engaging said flanges to link-connect the rails, and keys passing through the flanges to hold the links in place.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN F. BALL.

Witnesses:

B. MULLINS, W. N. GRIFFITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

